Truss for umbilical hernia.



H. LOEWY. TRUSS FOR UMBILICAL HERNIA.

APPLIOATION IILBD r113. 16, 1911.

1,048,553. Patented Dec.31,1912.

UTTE %TTE% A ENT FFTCE.

HEINRICH LOEWY, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

TRUSS FOR UMBILIOAL HERNIA.

Application filed Februaiy 16, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hermann liouwr, a. subject of the German Emperor,and residing at Berlin, Germany, have invented certain new and usefulImprovcn'umts in Trusses for Umbilical Hernia, of which the following isa specification.

In the case of umbilical hernia it is diiiicult to secure the truss onthe body in such manner that it constantly remains in place, because itsentire front portion rests on the abdominal muscles which are not onlysoft, but also constantly move, e. 9. when breathing, walking and so on.In addition to these small changes in shape in the periphery of theabdomen very large changes occur, particularly in corpulent people, whenthe abdominal muscles are suddenly contracted e. 9 when breathing verydeeply. Such difficult conditions are not met with in inguinal hernia,because in this case the truss is supported by the strong pelvic bones,and only quite unimportant changes in the periphery of the parts of thebody surrounded by a truss for inguinal hernia occur. Therefore, a trussfor umbilical hernia cannot at once be used for inguinal hernia, andreversely.

A primary object of my invention is to provide an improved truss forumbilical hernia which is secured in position even when the abdominalmuscles are suddenly contracted. I attain this end by arranging in thefront part of the truss a spring which bent toward the pad, 2'. e.oppositely to the shape of the body.

Two illustrative embodiments of my invention are represented by way ofexample in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspectiveview showing the first form of my improved truss, Fig. 2 is a diagramshowing the action of the spring, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe second form.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2. a designates the pad and b the beltconsisting of any suitable soft material. A spring 0 is attached in suchmanner to the belt, 6. by fixing it on or in the same, that its middleportion rests on the pad a. The middle of the spring is bent toward thepad and is consequently curved opposite to the curvature of the body,while the ends of the spring may be rectilinear or, as shown, curvedcorresponding to the curvature of the body. A second elastic member 0!,e. g. a

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31,1912.

Serial No. 608,984.

retractile spring or a strip of india-rubber, is arranged exactlyopposite the spring 0 in the rear part of the belt.

The truss is put in position and fastened in the usual manner. The pad 0is placed against the umbilicus, when the truss occupies the positionshown in Fig. 1, and then the belt is tightened. By the tightening ofthe bolt the two ends of the spring 0 are pulled toward the body untilthey fit the curvature of the body, as shown in dotted lines in theposition Tl in Fig. 2. The action of the spring is now such that itsends tend to move away from the body, but the middle portion of thespring is pressed toward the body, as indicated by the arrows l, 2 and 3in Fig. 2. This is the normal state. The force indicated by the arrow 2presses the pad against the umbilicus.

\Vhen the abdomen is suddenly contracted, however, it loses itscurvature in front, principally expands toward. the sides, andaceordingly occupies the position represented by the dotted line 0 inFig. 2. The new action proper of the spring now takes effect. The forcerepresented by the arrow 9., acting in the middle of the spring towardthe body, presses the pad and the entire middle portion of the springtoward the body so that the pad always rests against the umbilicus; thespring now approximately assumes its normal shape, i. e. that which ithad before the truss was put on, and rests only with its ends and itscentral portion against the body, as shown in position III in Fig. 2.Accordingly, the spring has assumed a position approximately parallel toposition I. The forces indicated by the ar rows ,1 and 3 havedisappeared and the ends of the spring abut against the body, so that apowerful pressure is exercised by the pad. As will be understood fromposition III, in spite of there being a large space between the twocurved parts of the spring and the body, so that even the hand could bepassed into the same, the truss is firmly positioned because its centralportion and the ends of the spring rest against the body.

The action of the spring 0 is aided by the spring (Z or the like in sofar as, when the abdomen is contracted and the spring 0 moves from itsposition TI into its position UT, the contractile action of this spring(Z or the like causes the ends of the spring 0 in all cases to abutagainst the body. Obviously, instead of one spring a several superposedor adjaeent springs 0 may be employed.

In the illustrative embodiment according to Fig. 3 intended particularlyfor children, two belts Z), two springs 0 and two strips ofindia-rubber, springs or the like (Z are provided. he springs c are hereplaced crosswise and can be so turned relatively to one another thatthey form a larger or smaller angle one with the other, and consequentlythe distance between the belts F) can be varied.

I claim In a truss of the class set forth, the combination of a bodybelt, an elastic retractile connection at the rear, a pad carried by thebelt at the front, and a spring plate fastened midway its ends to thebelt at a point coincident with the pad and being long enough toapproximately surround the front of the abdomen, the parts of thisspring at each side of the point of attachment being bowed forwardly soas to spring normally away from the face of the belt and having the freeends bearing constantly and in all positions against the adjacent faceof the belt, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

HEINRICH LOEWY.

Vv itnesses WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HAsPER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

